Faithful fans celebrate California-Carolina Minor League All-Star game in San Jose

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Fans pose for TV during the California-Carolina League All-Star Game at San Jose Municipal Stadium in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. (Kelly Chang/Mosaic Staff)

Christian Puccinelli, left, and Ryan Griffins, yell for players' autographs before the California-Carolina League All-Star Game at San Jose Municipal Stadium in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. (Kelly Chang/Mosaic Staff)

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California League watch the Carolina League during the Home Run Derby for the California-Carolina League All-Star Game at San Jose Municipal Stadium in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. (Jonae Scott/Mosaic Staff)

Donning a jersey and cap of the San Jose Giants, an eager 9-year-old Bailey Borbas stood patiently in San Jose Municipal Stadium: He wanted to meet some of the top prospects in minor league baseball.

In an era when celebrity ballplayers seem untouchable, minor league games give young fans such as Bailey the opportunity to meet the future stars of America’s pastime.

Two hours later, Bailey and friends Quinn Dembecki and Marcus Page were standing on the field talking to left fielder Devin Harris, a top prospect for the San Jose Giants.

Bailey came to the stadium on June 18 for the California-Carolina Minor League All-Star Game, the first time the 17-year old series has been played in San Jose. California lost 12-2, but the result didn’t detract from the occasion’s distinctive blend of minor league intimacy and major league fanfare.

“It’s more family-friendly, I would say, than major leagues,” said Bailey, who will be a fourth grader at Los Gatos’ Hillbrook School in the fall. “You can see it a lot more. It’s a smaller stadium, so you’re closer to the game.”

The exchanges between fans and players that characterize minor league games, even major events such as the California-Carolina matchup, drew fans young and old to Municipal Stadium on a cool, late-spring night.

“You’re closer to the players,” said Gerald Sul, a San Jose resident and San Francisco Giants fan. “Everyone is able to get to know them personally. If you’re a fan who comes out here constantly–and that’s probably a good idea–you get to watch them grow and develop and probably even root for them more when they go on to the next level.” Just ask Christopher Gazik, 10.

“I was here when Pablo Sandoval was here and I met Buster Posey; I have his signature,” Christopher said as he bounced on his toes, grinning with pride.

More than a few Giants have performed in San Jose along the way to stardom: Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez all showcased their pitching there before heading north to San Francisco’s AT&T Park.

The all-star game, a showcase in which top players are selected to play by a committee, gave local fans a chance to see some of the big-time prospects from the East Coast after a steady diet of California League games this spring. Carolina stars such as Francisco Lindor and Robby Heffinger joined budding Giants slugger Angel Villalona for the game.

Young fans such as Christopher and Bailey were eager to be in the presence of soon-to-be big names in baseball, and so were the aspiring major leaguers at the game.

“It’s a lot of fun just being around the guys knowing that at the least you’ve played with guys who are going to be in the big leagues someday,” said Harris, the left fielder who leads the San Jose Giants in earned runs, home runs, and RBIs.

At least for a few hours at the park Harris and his fellow honorees got a sense of the big-time.

Country music star Craig Campbell sang the national anthem, and a gasp from the crowd of 5,007 announced the arrival of the game ball, which was dropped off via helicopter.

Games like this one embody the motto “Minor league baseball is major league fun.” Just ask Bailey.

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